Apparatus for use in making hooked rugs or the like



R. B. LAMME May 5, 1959 APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING HOOKED RUGS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 d f M APPARATUS FOR USE 'IN MAKING HOOKED RUGS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28. 1955 R. B. LAMME May 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Illa II [trill-"MHM j M w a, f 3 $1 w) a at w w 7 -I| I: ll \llll HIHU J M 4 4 if J o o W J V I fraueiafar flat/ fl lame R. B. LAMME May 5, 1959 APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING HOOKED RUGS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb 28. 1955 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING HOOKED RUGS OR THE LIKE Ruth B. Lamme, West Medford, Mass.

Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 490,923

2 Claims. (Cl. 45-24) This invention pertains to the manufacture of hooked rugs or the like, and relates more especially to improvements in apparatus for supporting the work during the making of a rug.

The frame proper, over which the work is stretched, usually comprises transversely spaced, parallel side rails and front and rear parallel rollers, the base fabric being wound on these rollers and usually having its lateral margins connected to the side rails by lacing or the like. The rollers are intended to be stationary except when, during the progress of manufacture, it becomes desirable to wind some of the materials from olf the front roll and onto the rear roll.

For the convenience of the worker, the rectangular stretcher frame, comprised of the side rails and rollers, is supported on a stand which holds the frame at a height convenient for the seated worker. Usually the frame is so mounted on the stand that it may be tilted and held at any desired inclination, usually being inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

Since rugs are made in different widths, the worker who employs the customary type of frame is confronted with the necessity of providing herself with a plurality of frames of different widths, or alternatively, using. an unnecessarily wide frame for making the narrower widths, a proceeding which is attended with certain inconveniences, for example the requirement of a large working space and the difficulty of keeping the base fabric properly taut when making a narrow rug on an unduly wide frame.

It is quite common for those interested in making hooked rugs to assemble in the same place as a group, for instance in a class to receive instruction, or merely for sociability while working on the material. However, the usual frame and stand (the wider frames being about 45 inches in width) are awkward to move from place to place, and in order that such a frame may be transported in an ordinary passenger automobile, it is usually substantially necessary to take the frame and stand apart and then to reassemble the parts at the place of use, a procedure which is bothersome and time-consuming.

In the customary frame, the rollers on which the base material is wound are journaled to turn in bearing openings in the side rails, and, in order to hold the rollers stationary, it has been common to split the ends of the side rails and to provide a screw and wing nut for drawing together the parts at opposite sides of the split, thus pinching the journal portion of the roller in the bearing opening in the rail. However, this is not at all a wholly satisfactory device, since it does not always prevent the roller from turning, so that the material becomes slack.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a frame and stand so devised that the working width of the stand and frame may be varied within the limits of variation in rug width, so that the same frame and stand may be employed when making rugs of the various widths, and with the assurance that the frame, under all Patented May 5, 1959 ICC circumstances, will be of the proper width for the rug being made.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stand for a rug frame which may be folded into very compact compass when not in use and when it is to be carried from place to place, but which may readily be expanded preparatory to use and which is held rigidly in expanded position during use. A further object is to provide a rug frame having novel means for holding the rollers stationary after the roller has once been adjusted, without possibility that the roller will turn and thus slacken the fabric during use. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the follow ing more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side view of a frame and stand according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. l is a detail view showing a part of a locking device whereby the frame may be held at the desired inclination without danger that it will tilt during use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the frame-supporting stand of Fig. 1, showing in broken lines how it may be expanded laterally;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the frame proper removed from the stand showing in broken lines how it may be widened;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail on the line Er -3 of Fig. 3 showing a locking element complemental to that shown in Fig. I

Fig. 4 is a top view of the frame of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3, looking upwardly;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the lower part of a modified form of stand;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Fig. 7, looking downwardly;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a further form of stand, shown in its operative position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View showing the stand of Fig. 9 in the process of being collapsed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the stand of Fig. 9 fully collapsed for transportation;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan View of the right-hand front corner of a rug supporting frame of slightly modified construction showing a desirable means for locking the front roller in adjusted position; and

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the character S indicates the supporting stand upon which the frame F is mounted. As here illustrated, the stand comprises the upright members 20 and 21, each mounted upon a suitable base 22 and 23 respectively, the members 20 and 21 being parallel and each being provided with a longitudinally extending slot 24. A transverse connecting member 25 (Fig. 2) has its opposite ends disposed in the lower parts of the slots 24, this transverse connecting member comprising the independent parts 27 and 28 which are connected respectively to the members 20 and 21 by bolts 29 and 30 having wing nuts at their forward ends. The part 27 is provided with an elongate slot 31, and the part 28 is provided with a series of spaced holes 32, a pivotal connector 33, for example, a rivet or bolt extending through the righthand hole of the series 32 and loosely through the slot 31, while a removable connector, for example a bolt 34, is designed to extend through any selected one of the holes 32 and through the slot 31 and is here shown as provided at the front of the connecting member with a wing nut by means of which the parts may be clamped together. By loosening this nut and removing the bolt 34 it is possible to slide the member 27 endwise relatively to the member 28, thus varying the distance between the uprights 20 and 21 and thus changing the effective width of the stand. When the desired width has been attained, the bolt 34 is passed through the properone of the holes 32 and through the slot 31 and the wing nut is then applied and tightened to hold the parts in the proper position. Obviously, if desired, the parts 31 may have a longitudinally extending slot, instead of the row of holes, thus permitting a finer adjustment of the width of the stand.

It will be understood that while bolts with wing nuts are here shown as constituting releasable connections betweentvarious parts of the device, any other form of releasable connector may be substituted therefor, and that when reference is made herein to the use of bolts and wing nuts, it is to be understood that no limitation as to the type of connector employed is thereby intended.

If it be desired to collapse the stand, for example for moving it from place to place, the bolt 34 may be removed and the element 33 slid to the opposite end of slot 31, whereupon the parts 27 and 28 may be swung about the bolts 29 and 30 as pivots until they are substantially housed within the slots 24 in the respective uprights 20 and 21. In so doing, the parts 20 and 21 are brought closely together, thus permitting the stand to be packed in small compass for ready transportation. Obviously, if the connector 33 is a bolt, the parts 27 and 28 may be completely separated, and each folded independently into the slot in the corresponding upright.

The frame F (Fig. 3) comprises the transversely spaced parallel side rails 36 and 37, and the front and rear rollers 38 and 39 respectively. The roller 39, as shown in detail in Figs. 4 and respectively, comprises two relatively movable elongate members 40 and 41, the member 40 having at its right-hand end a pintle element 42, which turns in a suitable hearing at the rear end of the rail 36, while the member 41 is provided at its left-hand end with a similar pintle 42 which turns in a suitable bearing in the rear end of the rail 37. The part 40 is provided with an elongate slot 44, and the part 41 with a series of spaced holes 45, a connector element 46, for instance a rivet or bolt, passing through the right-hand hole of the series of holes and through the slot 44, while a bolt 47 may be passed through any one of the holes 45 and through the slot 44 and then tightened by means of a nut thereby to hold the roller at the desired length adjustment resultant from the slid ing of one of the parts 40 and 41 relatively to the other. If desired, the part 41 may have a longitudinally extending slot instead of the series of holes.

The front roller 38 is generally similar to the rear roller, comprising the relatively slidable parts 40 and 41, the first having a longitudinal slot and the second having a series of spaced openings, the part 40 having a pintle member 42 like the pintle member 42 above described journaled in an opening in the front end of the rail 36, while the member 41 has a similar pintle journaled in an opening in the forward end of the rail 37. Since, in increasing the length of the roller 38, the parts 40 and 41 slide relatively to each other, the ends of the roller, where these parts initially overlap would be of lesser diameter or transverse dimension than the central portion of the roller. This might cause irregularities in the fabric wound on this roll. To avoid this difiiculty, it is desirable to provide shield members 48 and 49, the member 48 being connected to the left-hand end of the part 41 and the member 49 being connected to the right-hand portion of the part 40*. Thus when the parts 40 and 41 are slid away from each other, these shield members 48 and 49 help to keep the roller of approximately uniform transverse dimension, it being noted that the shield members 48 and 49 are relatively thin as compared with the parts 40 and 41 Alternatively, the parts 40 and 41 may be so devised that one may telescope within the other, in which event the shield member may not be required.

While the roller 39 has not been shown as provided with such shield members, it is contemplated that it may be provided with these shield members if desired. However, when the frame is to be used with means for supporting the completed portion of the rug, such as disclosed for example in the copending application of Ruth B. Lamme, Serial No. 407,066, dated January 29, 1954, it is not necessary to roll the material up on the roller 39, and thus it is of no substantial importance that this roller is not of uniform diameter from end to end.

Each of the uprights 20 and 21 of the stand S is provided at its upper end with a downwardly extending slot (Fig. l) which is designed to receive a bolt 24* extending through a hole in the corresponding side rail of the frame F, each bolt being provided with a wing nut whereby it may be tightened to hold the frame at the desired angle of inclination. Desirably, in order to insure a better lock for holding the frame in this operative position, each side rail may be provided, as shown in Fig. 3 with an insert metal plate 50 having external ribs 51 surrounding a hole through which the bolt passes, while the inside of the upright 20 or 21 may be provided with a similar insert plate 52 (Fig. 1 having ribs 53, bordering the bolt receiving slot, so that when the bolt is tightened, the ribs 51, by engagement with the spaces between the ribs 53, furnish a positive lock.

In Figs. 7 and 8, a modified construction whereby the stand S may be folded is illustrated. In this arrangement, the transverse member 25 which connects the uprights 20 and 21 comprises four parts M, N and I, K, the parts M and N being relatively adjustable by means of slots and bolts, and the parts I and K being similarly adjustable. The parts N and K are hinged together at H (Fig. 7), while the parts M and I are hinged to the uprights 20 and 21, respectively. A suitable locking device L extends across the joint at the hinge H and is normally operative to hold the parts N and K in alignment. However, by releasing this lock L the parts N and K may be swung upwardly about the hinge connections of the parts M and I to the uprights, thus allowing the stand to be folded until the uprights are in substantial contact.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, a somewhat simpler construction is illustrated, which is very similar to that shown in Figs. 7 and 8, except that the parts M and I, which are hinged together at the hinge H, are single members hinged at their outer ends to the uprights 20 and 21 respectively, so that there is no provision for adjustment of the width of the frame by varying the length of the connecting member 25*. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate how a frame such as shown in Fig. 9 may be folded in a compact form for storage or transportation.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is illustrated an arrangement for positively locking one of the rolls, for example the front roll 38 of the frame F so that it cannot accidentally turn after once being rotated to the desired position. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the roll 40 is a cylindrical roll having the pintle portion 42 which passes through a journal opening in the forward end of the rail 36. The latter is shown as provided with an open slot S and with the customary bolt B for drawing the upper and lower parts toward each other so as to punch the pintle member 42 to prevent turning. However, in accordance with the present invention, the pintle 42 is provided with a plurality of radial openings D, and the rail 36 is provided with a hole which enters the journal opening for the pintle and through which a retaining pin P may be pushed down into any selected one of the radial openings D of the pintle. This pin is preferably provided with a head by means of which it may be withdrawn when desired, but when the roll has been turned to the desired point and the pin inserted, the roll is positively held and cannot rotate accidentally; With this arrangement the slot S and bolt B are not necessary, although they may be useful for temporarily holding the roll in adjusted position before the final position of the roll has been determined.

A simpler arrangement for positively holding the roll in adjusted position is provided by making the pintle members polygonal in transverse section, rather than round, and providing the side rail with a parallel-walled slot in which the polygonal pintle may be seated, the slot being of such a width that the pintle cannot turn therein.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been illustrated and described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of hooked rugs of difierent widths, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an open, unobstructed, substantially rectangular stretcher frame for supporting the base fabric of a rug, said frame comprising parallel side rails of a fixed length and parallel transversely extending front and rear roller members upon which the base fabric of the rug may be wound, each roller member having a pintle element at each end respectively, and the side rails having bearing openings at their front and rear ends for the reception of the pintle elements, and a stand for supporting the frame in position for use, the stand comprising transversely spaced, vertical framesupporting members and transversely extending means for connecting the supporting members, said connecting means being transversely extensible and contractible, whereby the width of the stand may be varied, the roller members also being extensible and contractible in length, whereby the width of the frame may be varied, the forward roller member, at least, being of substantially the same efliective diameter from end to end regardless of the degree to which it may be extended, means so pivotally attaching the frame to the upper ends of the vertical frame-supporting members of the stand that the axes of the front and rear roller members are substantially equidistant from the point of attachment of the frame to the stand, and means for retaining the frame in desired position of angular adjustment about its connection to said supporting means.

2. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of hooked rugs of different widths, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an open, unobstructed, substantially rectangular stretcher frame for supporting the base fabric of a rug, said frame comprising parallel side rails of a fixed length and parallel transversely extending front and rear roller members upon which the base fabric of the rug may be wound, each roller member having a pintle element at each end respectively, and the side rails having bearing openings at their front and rear ends for the reception of the pintle elements, and a stand for supporting the frame in position for use, the stand comprising transversely spaced, vertical framesupporting members and transversely extending means for connecting the supporting members, said connecting means being transversely extensible and contractible, whereby the width of the stand may be varied, the roller members also being extensible and contractible in length, whereby the width of the frame may be varied, the forward roller member, at least, being of substantially the same effective diameter from end to end regardless of the degree to which it may be extended, means so pivotally attaching the frame to the upper ends of the vertical frame-supporting members of the stand that the axes of the front and rear roller members are substantially equidistant from the point of attachment of the frame to the stand, and means for retaining the frame in desired position of angular adjustment about its connecti-on to said supporting means, the front roll, at least, comprising two elongate, overlapping, relatively slidable members, each having one respectively of the pintles at its outer end, one of said overlapping members having a longitudinally extending slot and the other having a row of spaced holes, a clamping element passing through a selected one of said holes and through the slot for holding said members in desired position of relative adjustment, and a shield member attached to each of said slidable members, respectively, the shield members being operative to maintain substantially constant the transverse dimensions of the front roll regardless of the amount to which it may be extended by oppositely moving in its constituent elongate members.

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